Irvine rides 3-run 8th to 3-1 CWS win over Texas

ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 15, 2014 12:01 AM

UC Irvine's Taylor Sparks (25) reaches first base on a throwing error by second baseman Brooks Marlow, unseen, as Texas first baseman Kacy Clemens (42) can't catch the ball, in the first inning of an NCAA baseball College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted Kirk)FR34398 AP

ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 15, 2014 12:01 AM

OMAHA, Neb. -- Taylor Sparks hit his nation-leading ninth triple of the season to fuel UC Irvine's three-run eighth inning Saturday in the Anteaters' 3-1 victory over Texas (43-20) in the opening game of the College World Series.

The Anteaters had been shut out for seven innings before they broke through against Texas starter Nathan Thornhill (8-3) and reliever John Curtiss.

One of the last four teams selected for the NCAA tournament, UC Irvine (41-23) continued to amaze during a postseason run in which it knocked off No. 1 national seed Oregon State and swept a super regional.

The Anteaters advanced to a winner's game Monday against Vanderbilt or Louisville. The Longhorns (43-20) play the Vanderbilt-Louisville loser.

Evan Brock (9-6) earned the win, pitching 2 1-3 innings of no-hit relief and striking out the side in the ninth.